Switch



Aug. 26, 1958 G. L. CHAPMAN SWITCH Filed Sept. 16, 1954 .INVENTORS (imgzlrlmp nan BY Z5 41mm 75201 ATTORNEYS i in,

SWITCH George L. Chapman, York Village, Maine, assignor to ClarostatMfg.Co., Inc;, Dover, NL-HZ, a corporation of New York Application September16, 1954, Serial No. 456,444

Claims. (Cl. 200-67) This invention relates to a functionally andstructurally improved switch of the electrical type.

It is an object of the invention to furnish a positive action push-pulltype unit which may conveniently be employed in numerous installationswhere only limited space is available. The rhechanismso installed-will Ifunction over long periods of time with freedom from all difiicultiesand under loads involving relatively high voltage and ampere values. 1

A further object is that of furnishing a switch which will have minimumaxial dimensions and in which the actuating pressure required for itsoperation will be negligible.

Still another object is that of designing an. apparatus which willinclude relatively few parts each individually simple and rugged inconstruction and capable of. manufacture and assembly by quantityproduction methods to achieve a compact unit which will have a longeffective life.

With these and other objects in mind, reference is had to the attachedsheet of drawings illustrating one practical embodiment of the inventionin which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the unit with certain' of the parts brokenaway to disclose underlying structures;

Fig. 2 is a face view of the assembly;

Fig. 3 is a sectional side view of the switch and showing the parts ofsame in openposition;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in closedposition; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary somewhat schematic viewillus trating thecooperation of the'contact' elements.

A switch of this typewillordinarily be combined with an auxiliaryelectrical control. That control may for example be a potentiometer. Forthis reason, it has been so illustrated in Fig. 1. However, it will beunderstood that tbe switch might be combined with otherunits or might beindependently employed. Regardless of whether it is combined with acontrol or used independently thereof, the entire assembly will occupy avery limited space but will nevertheless function with entiresatisfaction for long periods of time.

Thus, referring to Fig. l the number indicates the casing of a controlsuch as a potentiometer. Within the latter, mechanism 11, of more orless conventional design, is arranged. Extending from this mechanism arethe usual leads and terminals 12. The casing is conveniently supportedby a bushing 13, extending from the assembly. That bushing rotatablymounts a shaft 14. The shaft also will be capable of limited axialmovements by, for example, being ppovided with a reduced portion UnitedStates Patent base of casing 10 and then beingv turned inwardlyas shownin Fig. 1. The base of that casing 10 is furnishedwith an opening suchthat the'inner end of shaft 14 may pass there through. At its inner enda groove 19 is formed in-the shaft to-provide' a coupling with theswitch actuator. Terminals, 20, extend from the base of switch casing 17(or otherwise) and are connected" with the circuit to be controlled.That circuit may include the control mechanism, 11, or beentirely'independent thereof.

Within casing, 17, a base 21, preferably of insulating material, isdisposed; Itis this base which mounts theterminals 20 and a pair ofspaced contacts, 22, in the'embodiment illustrated. Also this basemounts asupport in the form of a pair of upstanding spaced ears, 23,which may be-included as part of a U-shaped bracket. Between these carsa pin, 24, is disposed. This pivotly supports an actuator, 25. Thelatter has its body terminating. in: an arm 26, which is preferablytrimmed so that its edge extends at an tangent. This arm is formed withanotch 30. The dimensions'of the latter are such that it may receive thegroove 19 of shaft 14. One of the cars 23 is formed with a notch 31. Aprojecting portion 32 is provided in the edge. of actuator arm 26 andridesing arm 41 underlying strip 36 and rockingly supported by thepin 24through ears '43.

A strip forelectrically'bridging the gap between con- 'tacts 22-includesa U-shapedbody 37 formed of ameta-l having resilientproperties. Adjacent each of its ends. contacts 37 are carried bystrip37, as seen-best in'Figs. 2 and 3. These contacts are disposed one aboveeach of contacts 22. Arm 36 is connected to-strip37 at a point midway ofthe ends of the latter. That connection may include lugs38extending-upwardly from its'face and lying within notches orperforations, 39, formed in arm or strip 36. integrally extending tongue40 projecting through a slot in strip 36. These projecting portionsareas shownbent over as to overlie-the faceof the arm.

lnconclusion it will be noted that the arm 41'is secured to strip 36 byfor example a tongue 42, extending through a slot in the strip 36. Themovements of thearms as sembly are restricted byhaving one of the ears23'provided with an extension 44 which overlies the arm and limits itsmovement in a direction away from the base 21. Strip 37 being ofresilient material, contacts 37 will normally extend towards the base 21at points overlying contacts 22. However, as the ends of the strip arerocked, the contacts 37 will move through an are opposed to the arc ofmovement of arm 26.

Assuming that the parts are disposed in the position shown in Figs. 1and 3, it will be understood that a pull on shaft 14 will cause theinner end portion of that shaft to rock actuator 26 in acounter-clockwise direction.

, Prior to that movement of the parts, spring 33 will be urging arm 36and strip 37 to assume a position at which contacts 22 are clear ofcontacts 37'. Under continued movement of actuator 26 in this direction,spring 33 will be expanded through and beyond its dead-center positionto the station generally indicated in Fig. 4. In

the latter position, spring 33 will urge arm 36 in a clockwisedirection. With such shifting, contacts 37 will engage contacts 22 andto a limited extent, move laterally across the latter. This results in awiping action Patented Aug.- 26, 1958 This connectionadditionallyincludes an- 33 assuring proper cooperating contact surfaces throughoutthe life of the unit.

The circuit through contacts 22 and 37' and strip 37 is now closed. Ifat this time shaft 14 (or an equivalent operating unit) is shifted tothe left as in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, actuator 26 will move in a clockwiseposition. It will carry with it one end of spring 33 and again shift thelatter through and past its dead center position. With such shifting theopposite end of this spring will exert a pull upon the extension or lug35 of plate 40. This will cause arm 36 to shift in a counter-clockwisedirection. "With such shifting contacts 37 will become separated fromcontacts 22 as in Fig. 3.

In both this separation as well as engagement of the contacts a wipingaction will occur. This has been shown in Fig. 5. In that view the fulllines indicate the on gaged positions of the contacts. As they occupystations just short of full engagement contacts 37' and the ends ofstrip 37 will be in the position shown in dot and dash lines. In otherwords, during the last stages of disengagement and initial stages ofengagement, contacts 37' will move laterally over the face of contacts22. Therefore a desirable wiping action will occur which will assure theestablishment of a proper circuit.

Thus, among others, the several objects of the invention as specificallyforenoted are achieved. Obviously, numerous changes in construction andrearrangements of the parts may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention asdefined by the claims.

I claim:

1. A switch including in combination a mounting base, fixed contactssupported in a plane on said mounting base, a contact-carrying memberpivotally connected with said base, second contacts mounted on saidcontact-carrying member in a plane substantially parallel with the planeof said first contacts, an axial member about which the contact-carryingmember can rotate, an actuator pivotally mounted about said axialmember, said actuator being insulated from the contact carried by saidcontactcarrying member, a spring one end of which is connected to saidactuator and the other end of which is connected to saidcontact-carrying member and insulated from the contact carried thereby,and said spring being constructed to control the movement of saidcontact-carrying member by shifting its position to rotate thecontact-carrying member about said axial member when the actuator isrotated by means of said shaft, said rotation of the contact-carryingmember being in the opposite direction of rotation of said actuator andin an arc which moves the contacts carried thereby to wipe said fixedcontacts, the direction of motion of the second contacts being at aright angle to the plane of the contacts.

2. A push-pull type of switch including in combination a mounting base,fixed contacts supported in a plane on said mounting base, a contactcarrying member pivotally connected with said base, second contactsmounted on said contact carrying member in a plane substantiallyparallel with the plane of said first contacts, an actuator pivotallyconnected with said base adjacent said contact carrying member, saidactuator being insulated from the contacts carried by said contactcarrying member, a shaft coupled with said actuator and being supportedby said base for axial movement relative thereto, a spring, one end ofwhich is connected to said actuator and the other end of which isconnected to said contact carrying member and insulated from thecontacts carried thereby, and said spring being constructed to controlthe movement of said contact carrying member by shifting its position torotate the contact carrying member when the actuator is rotated by meansof said shaft, said rotation of the contact carrying mem her being inthe opposite direction of rotation of said actuator and in an arc whichmoves the contacts carried thereby to wipe said fixed contacts, and thedirection of motion of the second contacts being at a right angle to theplane of the contacts.

3. The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein said secondcontacts are disposed substantially on either side of said shaft and areelectrically connected through said contact carrying member.

4. The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein a limiting memberis attached to said base and overlies said contact carrying member andfurther restricts the movement of said contact carrying member in adirection away from said mounting base.

5. The invention in accordance with claim 2, wherein a motionrestricting member is attached to said base and has stops limiting therotation of said actuator to a relatively small arc.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS639,557 Guett Dec. 19, 1899 1,334,784 Newton Mar. 23, 1920 1,399,490Krantz Dec. 6, 1921 1,455,931 Pape May 22, 1923 2,215,816 Hathorn Sept.24, 1940 2,235,366 Haselwood Mar. 18, 1941 2,247,061 Lodge June 24, 19412,327,069 Satterlee Aug. 17, 1943 2,444,529 Puster July 6, 19482,463,659 Tiedeman Mar. 8, 1949 2,582,034 Hausler Jan. 8, 1952 2,612,574Wyman Sept. 30, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 909,571 France Jan. 2, 1946

